KKR signs ex-Knight as injured Matheesha Pathirana's replacement

Kolkata Knight Riders have ruled Matheesha Pathirana out of IPL 2026 after the Sri Lankan fast bowler suffered a hamstring injury during the side’s victory over Gujarat Titans. The franchise has named wicketkeeper-batter Luvnith Sisodia as his replacement ahead of its final league fixture against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens.

 

Pathirana had been one of KKR’s major auction investments, bought for INR 18 crore before the season. However, injury setbacks delayed his involvement throughout the campaign. After suffering an injury during the 2026 T20 World Cup, he received a No-Objection Certificate from Sri Lanka Cricket only after Kolkata had already completed four matches.

 

His delayed arrival limited his participation, and he remained unavailable for selection until the team’s 12th league match.

 

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Delayed Debut Ends Early

 

Pathirana finally made his debut for Kolkata as an Impact Player but his appearance ended abruptly. The fast bowler delivered only eight balls before leaving the field after injuring his hamstring, bringing an immediate end to his first outing for the franchise.

 

KKR responded by recalling Sisodia, signing him for INR 30 lakh. The wicketkeeper-batter was part of Kolkata’s squad during the previous season and joined practice on Saturday, one day before the side’s crucial league encounter against Delhi Capitals.

 

Sisodia has earlier been associated with Royal Challengers Bengaluru but is yet to feature in an IPL match. Across 15 T20 appearances, he has scored 124 runs at a strike rate of 127.83.

 

Squad Balance and Playoff Equation

 

While Sisodia does not offer a direct bowling replacement for Pathirana, his arrival strengthens Kolkata’s wicketkeeping options after another injury setback in the squad. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who had handled wicketkeeping duties this season, was ruled out following concussion and a fractured finger sustained while attempting a catch against Mumbai Indians.

 

Tejasvi Dahiya subsequently took over behind the stumps and was later confirmed as Raghuvanshi’s concussion substitute.

 

Kolkata enter their final league match placed sixth on the IPL 2026 table. Their playoff hopes depend on a large victory over Delhi Capitals and favourable results elsewhere, including Mumbai Indians defeating Rajasthan Royals earlier in the day. The contest therefore carries knockout significance for Kolkata.